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E3 Recruitment addresses MIY members’ employment issues

E3 Recruitment is the UK’s leading manufacturing, engineering, and technical recruitment specialist. With its head office based in Huddersfield and a South Yorkshire office in Rotherham, the agency works closely with the region’s manufacturers; This is why MIY chose E3R to become a patron and is the manufacturing peer group’s only recruitment partner - because they are highly regarded by the region’s manufacturers and experts in the sectors they operate in - which include; General Manufacturing, Aerospace, Automotive and Fleet, Building Products, Chemicals and Pharma, Energy and Utilities, FMCG, Food, Oil and Gas, and Power and Distribution.

MIY members’ current issues In July MIY members completed a survey which asked manufacturers the current issues the industry faces. An astounding 70% came back and reported the ageing workforce and recruiting for skills were the biggest issues. Working extensively within the manufacturing and engineering industries, E3R has seen first-hand the challenges that businesses face.

Ageing workforce One in four people in the UK workforce is now aged over 50. By 2030, the number of people in the UK aged 65 and over will have increased by 50 per cent, and the number of people over the age of 85 will have doubled. Longer lives mean longer working lives; the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) has suggested that workers under the age of 30 may not get a pension until the age of 70. Managing this older workforce will pose a new set of challenges for employers, which include productivity, health-care provision, retirement income and also a new approach to managing including training and development, career progression and listening to the concerns of the staff. With employees working longer, and the retirement window expanding by at least 15 years, succession planning is becoming even more challenging employers.

Recruiting for skills A lot has been said about bridging the skills gap, and that’s because it’s one of the biggest issues British businesses face. Not only does it prevent businesses from finding the right people with the right skills, it leads to significant wage pressures as employers are forced to pay higher premiums. The lack of STEM candidates – science, technology, engineering and maths - is well-known as businesses struggle to find skilled engineers at all levels. Promoting apprenticeships to students is a key focus and forging strong links between businesses, schools and colleges remains vital.

4IR Manufacturing is now entering the fourth industrial revolution, which is driven by rapid advances in technology to drive productivity. A recent survey by EEF revealed 61 per cent of manufacturers agree they could be using digital technologies more to boost productivity; With 80 per cent agreeing 4IR will become a reality by 2015. Optimism and efficiency will be achieved by digitalism through information flow, exchange, and knowledge from data. But before manufactures can adapt these advances in technology they require individuals with cutting edge high-level skill sets. Unfortunately, these individuals are few and far between and highly sought after, so businesses need to know how to attract and retain them.